The ID@Xbox program has been a positive force in the indie game space since its launch all the way back in 2014, allowing independent developers to self-publish their titles across Windows and Xbox platforms while also supporting them with development kits, fee-free updates, engine access and more.
The ID@Xbox program has resulted in billions of dollars being paid to small developers and thousands of published games, and we recently got an in-depth look at four more titles launching with support from ID@Xbox in a special presentation, from developers based around Asia including the Philippines, India and Japan as well as right here in Australia.
It was a real treat to hear direct from both studios and solo creators about their games and their unique experiences in creating them, so be sure to check them all out below:
Fallen Tear: The Ascension
CMD Studios (Philippines)
Metroidvanias are so in right now, and CMD Studios’ Fallen Tear: The Ascension looks to be another worthy entry in the genre with a stuning art style and the promise of a huge adventure where players will explore a huge map, fight imposing magical beasts, surmount platforming challenges and more as they journey a vast world to uncover a forgotten past.
We were able to see the first 10-15 minutes of Fallen Tear, and it’s immediately striking to behold with gorgeous, hand-drawn 2D animation and fully-voiced characters really bringing it to life. The combat looks thrilling and challenging to master, and the map will no doubt be stuffed with secrets to discover. Sign us up!
Brocula
Destroyer Doggo (India)
As a solo effort coming from game developer (and Xbox Developer Acceleration Program grant winner) Prateek Jadhwani, Brocula looks positively special. Casting players as a vampire who awakens after a five-century nap only to find themselves in the modern world and in need of part-time work to get by is inspired, as is presenting it in a format that will no doubt have “cozy sim” fans salivating at the fangs.
Hearing Prateek’s passion as he walked us through the game was a delight, and the whole thing oozes so much charm and uniqueness through its simple but eye-catching pixel art style. This will definitely be one to watch for the Graveyard Keeper/Stardew Valley crowd when it lands.
InKonbini
Nagai Industries (Japan)
The Japanese konbini is really something you need to experience first hand to truly appreciate, but whether you’ve spent time in the home of anime and the Yomiuri Giants or you’re coming in entirely fresh, InKonbini looks like a delight.
Set in a small Japanese town in the 1990s, InKonbini is a narrative and choice-driven shop simulator which narrows in on the small moments in everyday life that shape our experience of the world and remind us that everything and everyone is fleeting, and to stop and pay attention to the now.
We got a first-ever look at gameplay and Nagai Industries really seems to be striking a wonderful balance between “sim” gameplay and a more chill, slice-of-life structure, while also keeping everything super accessible and approachable. Tasks like keeping the shop running and stocked up with the right products is important, and you’ll learn what these are as you get to know the regulars and their needs, but the real heart and soul of the game will be in those personal interactions, engaging with the diverse cast through dialogue sequences and striving to help them with their own lives just by being their local and reliable konbini.
InKonbini is slated to launch on consoles and PC in 2025. You can check out the game’s debut teaser trailer below:
Go-Go Town
(Prideful Sloth, Australia)
Naturally, this one struck a chord with me simply by being an Aussie-developed title, but I’m also a big fan of Prideful Sloth’s other games like Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles and Grow: Song of the Evertree. Their new title, Go-Go-Town, looks to carry a lot of the same design DNA but is also an altogether different kind of experience. It’s an adorable town-builder that casts players as the world’s most hands-on mayor with a goal to turn a rundown burg into a bustling tourist destination.
A lengthy look at gameplay showed off a huge variety of things to do in the game from building and decorating, to expanding and managing city infrastructure, exploring and interacting with citizens, collaborating with other players in local split-screen, mining and foraging, terraforming or just plain chilling. I can’t wait to get around this when it launches later this year.
